Athens 2003 Men's Challenger
- First event in new Olympic Beach Volleyball CenterThis FIVB Men's Challenger event "ATHENS 2003" on August 19-24 will launch the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre in Athens, where a fabulous permanent stadium has been constructed in the style of a Greek amphitheater.

The new venue, situated in the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex in the Municipality of Kallithea and now in the final stages of completion, will have an eventual capacity for the Olympic Games of 10,000. The permanent seating capacity of 4,300 will be ready for the FIVB Challenger.
Pic: The Athens 2004 Stadium near completion.

At a recent inspection of the Olympic venue, FIVB's Beach Volleyball Coordinator Angelo Squeo said: "It's going to be a fantastic venue in a great location".
Players competing in the tournament will have the honor of christening this venue, which, with Olympic ticket sales already booming, is predicted as being one of the most popular during Athens 2004.

The Challenger tournament, which offers total prize money of $30,000, will be modeled on the competition format for the Olympic Games, Athens 2004.A total of 24 teams will participate and there will be no qualification tournament. A maximum of two teams per national federation are allowed to enter.
With the exception of host country Greece, only teams ranked from position 33 or lower in the FIVB World Ranking as at July 21, 2003 are eligible. In addition two wild cards will be awarded.

For competing athletes, the event carries FIVB World Ranking points however they do not count towards Olympic qualification.
The preliminary round comprises six pools of four teams with the first two teams from each pool, plus the four best ranked third placed teams advancing to the Round of Sixteen. From then on, the competition will be single elimination right through to the final.
A feature of the event, which will also apply for the Olympic tournament, will be evening sessions played under artificial lighting.
Pic: Pavios Belegratis delivering an attack in
Rhodes against USA's Nygaard

Teams wishing to enter in the event should
directly submit their ENTRY FORM to Organisers (fax.
30-210-3441 047 or e-mail: ncsofian@athens2004.com

This Challenger is being hosted by the Hellenic Volleyball Federation and the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games "ATHENS 2004"
.